29 April 2024 , 16:28
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Wrexham players are cashing in for the second straight season after securing consecutive promotions.
The Welsh club finished as League Two runners-up in their first campaign back as a Football League outfit and will now play in League One next season for the first time in 19 years. That achievement came on the back of ending 15 years in the National League by winning the title 12 months ago.
After their first promotion, Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds took the team on an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas to show them their appreciation. Club captain Ben Tozer has called for something similar this summer, challenging their bosses to top that experience a year on
However, the owners have already shown their gratitude by doubling the bonuses paid to their players.
Last year, the squad shared £250,676 between them in bonuses, which included promotion-related payments.
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That total has now more than doubled to £509,710, as per the club's latest accounts. Compare that to the £5,000 each they dished out following their first full season in charge, which ended in defeat to Grimsby Town in the National League playoffs.
Further bonuses will follow if the club makes it to the Championship. Wrexham are the early favourites for promotion to the second tier next season. Ahead of preparations for another promotion push beginning, the players are hoping for another trip away on top of their bonuses.
Paul Mullin and Elliott Lee fired Wrexham to promotion and are now receiving big bonuses (Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)Immediately after winning promotion, Tozer addressed the topic with the BBC: "I don't know if they've messaged anyone yet," he acknowledged. "We usually get a message from Ryan after a game, so I'm sure he'll message soon enough - they both will, to be fair. We've just told them to fire up the jet for Vegas!"
A day later, he told talkSPORT: "I mean, all we've said to [the owners] is, 'Try and top last year if you can!' That's it."
The skipper also confirmed they are not ruling out a third-straight promotion. "I don't see why the club can't, but at the same time, let's just enjoy this one while it's here and take the next one as it comes."
But manager Phil Parkinson tempered expectations when speaking to the same station a week later.
“How high can we go? I think League One is a bigger jump than going from National League to League Two, so we’ve got a big test in this summer, we really have," he acknowledged.
"We’ve got to recruit well, we’ve got to maintain the spirit we’ve built over the last two years, but whilst always being honest – you’ve got to improve each time you go up, so that’s the challenge for us, and it’s one I’m really excited about taking on.”
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